Vintage Rail vs. Cool Rails?

[Quicksilver689]

Anyone have any experience and/or sound clips comparing these two pickups in relatively similar guitars? So far I'm leaning more towards the VR for both neck/middle positions on my Carvin bolt (swamp ash body, maple/maple neck), but I'd like to hear them as much as I can before laying money down. SD website clips aren't of much help. I've found some degree of help searching these forums and on Youtube, but would like to hear of any personal experiences any of you have had. I'm not looking for an overwhelming amount of output when doing neck position solos, but definitely enough sustain and clarity for when I do. Trying to get fairly authentic Strat sounds in neck and notch positions. TIA!

P.S. Somewhat related - I'm looking to put a TB4 in the bridge with potentially two VR's in neck/mid positions...will volumes balance well?

EDIT: This clip as well as this one lead me to believe VR's could work well...but thought I'd ask you bros anyway

 

[gripweed]

Re: Vintage Rail vs. Cool Rails?

I've no experience with the Vintage Rails, but my understanding is that they are a humcancelling Strat pickups, not unlike a stacked pickup. I think of the Cool Rails (which I do have experience with) as a rail type little humbucker, not unlike the Hot Rails or Lil '59. To my ears, the Cool Rails sounds like a slightly hotter than vintage humbucker with some Texas sizzle on the top. It is definitely brighter than a full sized humbucker. If what you want is a hum cancelling Strat type pickup, I think the VR is probably your choice out of the two.

Is there any reason why you've settled on Rails type pickups instead of the Classic Strat Plus or Duckbuckers?

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: Vintage Rail vs. Cool Rails?

As for the Duckbucker: according to SD write-ups (and other forumite postings), both the DB and the VR are apparently exactly the same pickup, just that the VR uses rails to eliminate drop-outs when bending strings. I've checked out the Classic Strat Plus on Youtube and it sounds good, I won't deny that...really digging the VR though so far.

That being said, the DiMarzio Cruiser sounds really nice too...

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Vintage Rail vs. Cool Rails?

You can find sound bytes here.

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: Vintage Rail vs. Cool Rails?

Thx Evan!

 

[JOP]

Re: Vintage Rail vs. Cool Rails?

Just adding my two cents here, after listening to soundbytes and stuff off of youtube, I'd go with VR.

 

[Quicksilver689]

Re: Vintage Rail vs. Cool Rails?

Yeah, JOP, that's what I'm thinking too...